Obs. Forms: 1 lyre, 2–4 lere, 3 leore, 3–4 lire, 3–5 lure(ü), (4 luere, lur). [OE. lyre masc.:—OTeut. type *luzi-z, f. root *lus- (:leus-: laus-) to lose: see LEESE v.] Loss, either the action or process of losing, or what is lost; destruction, perdition. Also to bring to lure, to lie in lure.
c. 1000. Ælfric, Colloq., in Wr.-Wülcker, 96. Mid lyre ealra þinga minra.
c. 1150. Voc., ibid. 540/31. Iactura, lure.
a. 1175. Cott. Hom., 221. Þa wolde god ȝefyllan and ȝeinnian þone lere þe forloren was, of þan hefenlice werode.
c. 1200. Ormin, 5667. Whatt mann se itt iss þatt wepeþþ her Forr lire off eorþlike ahhte.
a. 1250. Owl & Night., 1151. Thu singst aȝen eiȝte lure.
1297. R. Glouc. (Rolls), 10813. Him þoȝte it was a gret lere [C. lure] to al is kinedom.
a. 1327. in Rel. Ant., I. 263. On blac hors ryden other seon, That wol luere ant tuene buen.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 355. I am þe wakkest, I wot, and of wyt feblest, & lest lur of my lyf, quo laytes þe soþe.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 2241. Ouer lukes all lures to the last ende, What wull falle. Ibid., 8691. Alasse, the losse and the lure of oure lefe prinse!
